Old Coast Guard Station
Old Coast Guard Station is a attraction in Oceanfront, Virginia Beach, best for history buffs, a Boardwalk break, maritime-heritage fans.
Wedged between Boardwalk high-rises at 24th Street sits a small 1903 Life-Saving Station — the Old Coast Guard Station, a museum on the National Register of Historic Places that preserves the story of the U.S. Life-Saving Service, the Coast Guard, and the shipwrecks of the Virginia coast. Its two galleries cover rescue equipment and methods, wrecks along this stretch of the Atlantic, and the Battle of the Atlantic in World War II, drawing on a collection of roughly 1,800 artifacts and more than a thousand photographs. Programming runs from a maritime-history speaker series to exhibits on Virginia Beach's own surf culture. It is the quickest history fix on the Boardwalk itself — you can step off the sand and into it. Winter hours are Tuesday–Saturday 10am–5pm and Sunday 12pm–5pm; hours shift seasonally, so check the official site before visiting.
- Hidden Gem
Amenities
- Two exhibit galleries
- Gift shop
- Research archives
- Guided tours
Know Before You Go
- Best for: history buffs, a Boardwalk break, maritime-heritage fans
- Parking: No dedicated lot — use Oceanfront municipal parking nearby.
- Accessibility: Housed in a small historic 1903 building; contact the museum for current accessibility details.
- Dogs: not allowed
- Location: 24th Street and Atlantic Avenue, on the Boardwalk, Virginia Beach, VA
Last verified 2026-07-10.
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While You're in the Area
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Beatles-themed pub a block off the beach at 22nd Street — 42 taps, live music, a dog-friendly patio, and a Monday military discount.
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Two-boat Rudee Inlet charter operation — The Flat Line and The Game On — running inshore, nearshore, and offshore deep-sea trips around the clock.
Barclay Cottage Inn
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All-suite Boardwalk tower at 9th Street — 138 two-room suites, every one with a full kitchen and ocean-view balcony, plus a heated indoor pool.
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Upcoming Events Nearby
Neptune's Coastal Craft Beer Festival
August 15, 2026 · annual
The Neptune Festival's 11th annual beer afternoon takes over 31st Street Park with more than 60 beers from around 30 breweries, heavy on the coastal Virginia scene. Two bands play through the 3–8pm session and local food trucks handle the eating. It's a compact, single-day festival — an easy add-on to a mid-August beach day, a block off the boardwalk at Neptune's Park.
Coastal Edge East Coast Surfing Championships
August 23, 2026 – August 30, 2026 · annual
The world's oldest continuously running surfing competition returns for its 64th year, turning the south end of the Oceanfront — from the 1st Street Jetty up to 10th Street — into a week-long surf carnival. More than 850 competitors surf pro and amateur divisions, including a WSL qualifying event, while the beach fills out with skate and BMX demos, live music, and tournament games. It's the anchor event of late summer at the beach and the best week of the year to watch serious surfing at the 1st Street break.
Virginia Beach Funk Fest Beach Party
August 28, 2026 – August 29, 2026 · annual
A free two-day beach party on the Oceanfront closing out August with funk, R&B, and soul acts on the sand. Part of the official Beach Events season, Funk Fest draws a big, dance-heavy crowd to the resort beach for one of the last major music weekends before Labor Day — no ticket needed, just claim a patch of sand.